Rating: 
Summary: Moderatly disappointed
Review: As with many others I was anxiously awaiting the release of the new book. For years I had been hearing rumors that Auel had cancer and died, or other crazyness that another book was not being released. Now that I have read the book, and again re-read the series and Shelter's of Stone, I am begining to find the wordiness and repetitivenous tedious. I started to feel that she was cutting and pasting paragraphs from one book to the other. This final book was an OK read, but not the page turner that the other books were. I sincerly hope the next book is a step up.
Rating: 
Summary: This book could have been written in 100 pages...
Review: I am a big fan of the Earth's Children series and was looking forward to reading the latest novel. There appeared to be no major plot developed in this book. The repition drove me insane -- how many times can you describe how to "introduce" yourself to wolf (in excessive detail)? How many times can you describe how Ayla came to tame a wild horse (in excessive detail)? I believe that the book did a good job of setting up the final book in the series, but I am confident that I could have skipped book 5 and not missed anything of importance.
Rating:
Summary: A Bit Too Draggy in Forward Movement and Plot
Review: Ayla and Jondalar, have just completed a year long journey to arrive at Jondalar's boyhood home, where they want to live together among his people. Ayla is quickly welcomed into his family but has to fit in. With her knowledge of healing and special skills, Alya gains their trust and makes friends. The couple are involved in many experiences and activites that help, although there is little forward movement and character development. But toward the end we get hints of new developments which might be presented in the next book of the series. Let's hope it has all that is lacking in this book.
Evelyn Horan - teacher/counselor/author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl Books One - Three
Rating:
Summary: never again
Review: I read all the others. They were preposterous but fun - Superwoman meets the Flintstones. This was repetitious drivel and drugery. I'll not be reading the sixth - ever
Rating: 
Summary: This book had no point!
Review: Up to this point, I had looked forward to Jean Auel's books. However, after reading her latested installment I was very disappointed. Yes, she has always been wordy but it seemed the whole book was that way. By the time I was halfway through the book, I was wondering where it was going and I found out at the end. NOWHERE!! What a waste of time and money. This was one of those books that you finish and then say to yourself "Is THAT it?" ...
Rating:
Summary: Great book, but...
Review: I have always loved the 'Earth's Children' series. I read Plains of Passage and Shelters of Stone almost back to back. While I thoroughly enjoyed this one, the endless descriptions got really boring after the first 100 pages or so. I admit, I skipped over quite a bit of it. But overall, I still liked the book and the plot, even if it was a bit slow at times, and after the way Auel ended this one, I'm looking forward to the next one.
Rating: 
Summary: brilliant
Review: i found this book very interesting and exciting, as i actually read this fisrt, due to my mum thinking it was the first in the series. i think other people might have found it slightly boring because it focuses totally on jondalars people and how Ayla interacts, yet this is in a way the same as the first book of the series (which i've now read), as that focused on how she interacted with the Clan. i would reccomend this to anyone who has read the other books.
Rating:
Summary: Well, what ahopens next??
Review: I have to agree with some of the reviews of this book, BUT I LOVE this character and so I will avidly read ANYTHING or any book about her...Ayla IS woman...but I DID find the book tedious at times with all the long introductions of people and all their titles and I actually don't care all that much about the socal order of the Zelandoni People........BUT will grab the next book as soon as it becomes available...Ayala is an old friend and I will stick with her to the very bitter end, to the death of Whinney and Wolf and perhaps even Jondular or Ayala herself...is she EVER going to be reunited with Durc?? If I can say antying about this book, I WILL say that I am glad that I did not read this one first and so have read them all in the order in which they were written. This was NOT the best...
Rating:
Summary: SHELTERS OF THE STONED
Review: Yawnzzzz. It took me a month to read this book... waiting for something to happen. It never did. Perhaps one should read it when stoned. Perhaps Ayla and company ate too many magic mushrooms and became too lethargic to actually do anything exciting. Like Zillions of other Auel fans, I waited 12 long years with breathless anticipation for this book, having thoroughly enjoyed the previous four. Thank goodness I did not pay the R260 for the hardcover. I eventually borrowed it from the library. Twelve years to write a book? I'm afraid it shows. I fully agree with Reader from Canada (April 2003) and his critique. All the no-nos of writing a good novel. Says it in a nutshell. And like another reader mentioned, it was asif someone else had written the book. I just think Jean Auel got so wrapped up in her own life, and kinda lost interest in Ayla and her clan. It seems it was just re-hashed verbiage dashed off to fill out a book. It really was such a disappointment. What bored me was the continual references, ad nauseum, to the happenings in the other books. Told over and over to whoever asked. Surely Auel must have known that the zillions of fans have read her other books, and any newcomers would then also read the other books to catch up. We didn't have to be told things all over again and again. It was like a tired soap opera. I'm not surprised that even Wolf got bored and ran away a few times..... Boring to have to read all the "introductions" of each person. That must have filled up the book by about ¼ at least. And Ayla's general lack of interest in healing plants etc. I won't even speak about the graphic sex scenes, which seemed to me asif the author thought, "oh ok, it's expected, we'll drop a descriptive sex scene in here..." To me it didn't add to the book, it jarred in fact. If I want to read about sex, I'll buy a suitable book. And sure, Auel's research is phenomenal. She proved it in her last 4 books, but the research was introduced in such a manner that it all flowed, and was therefore readable and interesting. In this book, every time you were told "something new", it was like being hit in the face with a wet fish. The research was obvious. Another no-no of good writing. Your research should not "show", but "flow" and be part of the story. There was no plot, there was no drama. And there was so much potential!! I kept on waiting for and expecting a confrontation with the "flatheads". Lots of potential for drama there, if it were more fully explored. Or with the resident ½ breeds. A lot could have happened. How about Ayla going off in a huff, being driven off by unkind words or actions. Jondolar could have gone after her. There could have been drama between the people and the animals. I expected it, but nothing. Such wonderful acceptance! So boring! One almost wishes for another earthquake..... I am just sorry that this book did not come up to expectations. I still think Auel is a brilliant writer, when she puts her mind to it. There is another book in the pipeline? Oh dear, after this one I'm not sure if I want to read it now. What are the chances that it will be better than this one? I will, however, re-read the first 4 books of the "Earth's Children" series. Brilliant, especially Clan of the Cave Bear. The first 4 in the series are way better than anything else I've read in the same genre. To the readers who actually LIKED this book, well, I suppose, "different strokes for different folks." And to Jean Auel I say, "You can do it again girl, just cut out all the psychobabble and get back to basics!"
Rating:
Summary: Close to 10 years waiting -- for this??????
Review: I first read Valley of the Horses when I was 11. Then I discovered it was a sequel, and found Clan of the Cave Bear a couple of years later. From that moment on, I was a dedicated adorer of the Earth's Children series. Yes, I admit the Mammoth Hunters was more in the style of Barbara Cartland... and I was sad about that, but the rest of that book was so good, the whole jealousy story faded into the background. Jean Auel redeemed herself in Plains of Passage and with glee, I devoured it. Ten years later, after uncounted queries at booksellers as to when the new book was going to be released, Shelters of Stone appeared on the shelves. You can imagine my joy. I purchased the hardback, and sat down after making many special preparations as if it would be a religious experience... I have never been so disappointed in a book in my life. Shelters of Stone was slow, dry, and provided me no incentive or motivation to keep me reading on except for a vain hope of it getting better (and perhaps my undying loyalty to one of my all time favourite authors). I am so sad to say it! But when the last page was turned, and the trudging storyline came abruptly to an end, I was left feeling like I worked very, very hard for nothing. I could pick up the next book in the series (yet to be released) without ever having read Shelters of Stone, and would have missed nothing. I am sorry to say it, but I feel as if after ten years of chomping at the bit for the next installment of my favourite series of books, I was sorely let down by a story that felt as if it must been a struggle for the author to write. I love you Jean, but I'm sorry... this book was not at all to your standard. I hope the next one will be better... I'm counting on it, and I'll be first in line to buy it.
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